Apparatus for casting slab type ingots



March 18, 1969 N JENSEN ET AL 3,433,286

APPARATUS FOR CASTING SLAB TYPE INGOTS Filed Jan. 20. 1966 Sheet Of 5 A 'I-NVENTORS N/ELS H. JENSEN HUBERT c. SMITH F 1 .1.

BY %m/ aromvsrs March 18, 1969 N. H. JENSEN ET AL 3,433,285

APPARATUS FOR CASTING SLAB TYPE INGOTS Sheet 3 of 5 Filed Jan. 20, 1966 INVENTORS N/ELS H JENSEN HUBERT C. SMITH March 18, 1969 N. H. JENSEN ET APPARATUS FOR CASTING SLAB TYPE INGOTS Sheet 1 of 5 Filed Jan. 20, 1966 INVENTORS JENSEN N/ELS H HUBERT C. SM/TH By 1' TT RNEFS March 18, 1969 JENSEN ET AL 3,433,286

APPARATUS FOR CASTING SLAB TYPE INGOTS Filed Jan. 20, 1966 Sheet 4 of 5 6 as hT J 1' ||I| i7 .27 29 a/ I.I 1-:

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APPARATUS FOR CASTING SLAB TYPE INGOTS Filed Jan. 20, 1966 Sheet 2 of 5 EEH F I A V////////A Y/l/A.

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; nws/v-ro/as IJQO N/ELS h! JENSEN HUBERT c. SM/771 AT TORNEKS United States Patent 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This abstract concerns a method and apparatus for casting a metal slab or ingot. A mold is positioned in a casting floor and molten metal is cast in the mold. Below the mold a stool is positioned which is lowered during casting by the elevator means. At the same time, multiple supports sustained the sides of the slab during downward movement. Coolant is supplied to the mold as well as to the slab as it moves downwardly. After casting, the slab is again raised on the stool above the casting floor and a stripper crane removes the cast ingot.

Continuous casting and semi-continuous casting practices in which steel is poured as the slab is moved away from the source of molten metal being poured offers several advantages, particularly in terms of yield and in the reduction of waste. Also, such practices reduced the number of steps and amount of time ultimately required in production.

Currently, one of the disadvantages inherent in continuous casting is that there is a practical limit to the cross-sectional dimensions of the slabs cast. Further, because of increasing metallurgical height requirement, there are practical disadvantages in machine height and ecoical straightening of large cross section curved slabs.

The objects of the present invention are to overcome the disadvantages currently encountered in continuous casting and to produce a slab or ingot of greater cross sectional dimensions than is now produced by that method.

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view taken on line II of FIG. 3 showing the apparatus before pouring is commenced.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the position of the moving parts of the apparatus when pouring is substantially completed.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan sectional view of the apparatus showing one arrangement of elevator means and the connections between chains and the bottom of the stool.

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the supporting cooling blocks showing channels through the blocks.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational fragmentary view f the apparatus showing a slab being poured and received by the cooling blocks and also illustrating the mold.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of equipment used in the practive of the present invention.

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view showing the cleats with portions of offset relation.

FIGURE 8 is a front elevation showing water coolant following a serpentine path through the cleats.

FIGURE 9 is a side elevation showing the interfitting shoes or cleats which define a serpentine path for the coolant as it flows downwardly.

All views are schematic.

In FIG. 1 a tundish car 1, the inside of which is divided by a weir 2 so that molten metal is poured on one side of weir 2 and flows to the opposite side through opening 4. Tundish car 1 has wheels 3 riding on tracks 5 supporting the casting floor 7. Car 1 can be positioned directly above a mold 9. Mold 9 is preferably, but not necessarily, made of copper. Other materials such as graphite or iron can be used. A movable slab or ingot receiving stool 11 is positioned below mold 9 to receive the slab or ingot being poured. The top of stool 11b is dimensioned to fit within the mold so that the stool can be located imm diately below the tundish spouts at the onset of the pouring. The base and top of the stool 11a comprises a movable support. An expendable seat 12 of iron is placed on the top 11b and secured to same by links 14 which are arranged for easy detachment when the slab or ingot is stripped from the apparatus.

Elevator means 67 in the form of flexible chains are secured to the extremity of each corner arm of the base of stool 11a to raise and lower same. Each chain 67 is mounted to run on a series of toothed driven gears 21 mounted within elevator columns 19 arranged between support columns 15. A plurality of linked cooling blocks 17 are connected through cables 13 to the four sides of stool base 11a so that the blocks, and the elevator means, travel coextensively with the ingot or slab as the latter is raised and lowered. The cooling blocks act as cooling supports for the sides of the slab received from mold 9 and little or no movement between the blocks and the ingot takes place.

As seen in FIG. 3, each elevator column 19 houses a toothed driving gear 21 which receives shaft 23 connected to a bevel gear 25 at each end. A second gear wheel 36 is journalled at the top of each column 19 for receiving chain 67. At the inner side of each elevator column 19 the four corner arms 27 of the movable support 11a are elongated to fit and ride within a recess 29 of the column 19. The elevator drive can be placed at the top or bottom of column 19 through gears 36 or 21.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, chains 67 through gears 21 are moved by bevel gears 25 and 31 so that the entire train of bevel gears are rotated simultaneously to raise and lower the four chains 67. A series of guide wheels 33 and 35 at the lower part of each support column 15 are jou-rnaled in the columns, preferably above the level of the bevel gear train mounted in elevator columns 19. A guide rail system 37 is provided at the top of each column 15 for guiding the cables or chains 13 connected to linked cooling blocks 17. Shaft 39 is turned through gear box 41 and the entire bevel gear system is powered by drive shaft 43. Alternatively, a separate motor can be provided for each elevator chain 67. It will be understood that guide wheels 33 and 35 are completely independent of the elevator gear system.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the links are shown with wheels 76 which fit in tracks 69. It will be understood, however, that rollers or wheels similar to 76 can be supported on the tracks and the links can ride on the wheels.

Referring to FIG. 5, the mold 9 is comprised of two parts 51 and 53, the upper and lower parts, respectively. As the slab 54 is poured and lowered it is cooled so that at least an outer skin is formed. Water is pumped through pipes 55 so that the mold, preferably constructed of copper, cools the outer surfaces of the slab or ingot to the point where it retains the shape of a slab and can be supported by the stool 11. Additional coolant can be applied through the mold 51 via pipe 91 below the level of initial skin formation, to fill the opening which occurs upon solidification of the skin of the ingot due to shrinkage of the solidified skin away from the mold walls. The lower part 53 has its lower end arc-shaped at 61 to insure that the gap between the supporting cooling blocks and the lower part 53 of the mold is minimized. The upper part 51 of the mold has water or some other coolant circulated through it with a return through pipe 63. The lower part 53 has a plurality of holes 65 for spraying water continuously on the slab 54 and cascading water on the surfaces through and between the cool-ing blocks 17.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 the interlocked blocks ride on tracks 69 and each link 71 has shoes 72 and 74 retained by dividing walls 73. The shoes are preferably made of steel or iron, but it will be understood that the faces of the shoes or cleats 72 and 74 in contact with the hot slab 54 can be graphite or other suitable material. As the slab or ingot 54 is lowered, the shoes 72 support same on all four sides and move the slab or ingot until casting is completed. Each cleat assembly is channeled so that water can cas cade through the channels and cool the slab as it is being .divert the flow from front to back (see FIG. 9) giving the water a cascading eflect through the cleats. The extensions of shoes 72 and 74 extend longitudinally the full length of the cooking blocks.

Additional Water is supplied to the cleat assemblies below the mold by sprays through pipe system 90 having spray heads 92. Water can be collected in a sump at the base of the machine and is recirculated through a cleaning andcooling system (not shown). The area below the casting floor can be enclosed and adequate exhaust can be provided.

The stool 11 can be of concave form and inert gas can be applied in mold 9 above the molten metal to envelope the pouring stream. Exothermic materials can be applied to the metal in the mold upon completion of pouring to further facilitate cooling according to standard practice.

In FIG. 6, a design for operating a plurality of casting operations is shown. The casting floor 7 is an elevated platform housing a number of casting machines. On overhead crane system includes a ladle crane 83, tracks 5 for a tundish car 1, a gantry crane 85 for moving the -mold guide 9 and a stripper guide 87. A stripper crane 89 is used to remove the case slabs or ingots at which time the stool is concurrently, gradually, raised, the mold 9 being replaced by a stripper guide 87.

It will be understood that a conventional vibrating device can be connected to the mold 9 to promote slippage between the mold and the slab or ingot 54. Also, salt and above said stool in the latters raised position, said mold having cooling means for at least partly solidifying the metal being cast, elevator means connected to said stool for lowering same as a slab or ingot is being cast, an elevator structure housing said elevator means, movable supporting means for receiving and supporting each side of said slab, said supporting means being movable and in contact with said slab as the latter moves downwardly, said elevator means and said supporting means being interconnected to travel coextensively with the ingot being cast.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said supporting means is connected to said stool.

3. A casting device for molding metal slabs comprising a stool for receiving molten metal, mold positioned above said stool in the latters raised position, said mold having cooling means for at least partly solidifying the metal being cast, elevator means connected to said stool for lowering same as a slab or ingot is being cast, an elevator structure housing said elevator means, movable supporting means for receiving and supporting each side of said slab, said supporting means being movable and in contact with said slab as the latter moves downwardly, said elevator structure comprising four columns, one of said columns being positioned at each corner of said stool.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein motive means is connected to the elevator means at the base of said elevator columns.

5. The invention of claim 3, wherein said supporting means is comprised of articulated hollow members which support each side of the slab or ingot.

6. The invention of claim 5, wherein said articulated members are comprised of interlinked cooling blocks.

7. The invention of claim'6, wherein said mold is provided with passageways through which a cooling medium is circulated and also dispensed to cascade down on and through said cooling blocks.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 10,082 4/1882 Billings 164-282 X 3,281,903 11/1966 Ross 164-2.74 X 3,344,845 10/ 1967 Blessinger et a1 164-274 1,385,595 7/1921 Van Ranst 164-274 X 2,284,503 5/1942 Williams 164-282 2,582,329 1/1952 Harter et al. 164282 X 3,283,368 11/1966 Homan 164282 3,318,366 5/1967 Foldessy -164-274 1. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

R. SPENCER ANNEAR, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

